Paul's Thorn in the Flesh

Paul's Thorn In The Flesh (12:7-10)

 

INTRODUCTION

2Corinthians 12:7-10

“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

 

1.   Paul tells of "a thorn in the flesh" which greatly

bothered him...

a. It was something for which he prayed the Lord to remove from him

b. The Lord did not do so, but gave Paul an answer that greatly

encouraged him

2. We might not be able to know exactly what the "thorn" was, but there

are some valuable lessons to be gleaned as we consider...

a. Why this "thorn" was given to Paul

b. Paul's initial reaction to the "thorn"

c. His reaction to the answer given him by the Lord

 

I. WHY WAS THE "THORN" GIVEN?

 

A.  LEST PAUL BE "EXALTED ABOVE MEASURE"

(2Corinthians 12:7)

“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.”

1. Paul had been blessed to receive many revelations (A few of them listed below)...

a. On the road to Damascus

Acts 9:3-6

“And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”

 The vision of Paradise

 2Corinthians 12:1-6

“It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (Whether in the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such as one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (Whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.”

2. It would have been quite easy...

a. For Paul to be filled with pride over these revelations

b. For the church to exalt him too highly

 

 THERE IS A PRACTICAL LESSON RELATED TO HUMILITY...

1.  Humility is a necessary trait for God's people

1Peter 5:5-6

“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed wit humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”

 

II. PAUL'S REACTION TO THE "THORN"

 

A.  BEING HUMAN, HE WANTED TO GET RID OF IT!

(2Corinthians 12:8)

“For this thing I besought the lord thrice, that it might depart from me.”

 He pleaded with the Lord three times to remove it

 

B. THIS SHOULD REMIND US OF CERTAIN PRINCIPLES OF PRAYER...

1. We are to pray with persistence

1 Thessalonians 5:7

“Pray without ceasing.”

2.  We are to pray in earnest

Matthew 7:7

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

3. We are to pray specifically (as Paul did)

-- Yet God knows what is best for us, so the answer may not be

what we wish

 

III. PAUL'S REACTION TO THE LORD'S ANSWER

 

A.  TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LORD'S ANSWER

(2Corinthians 12:9)

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly there will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

1. "My grace is sufficient for you"

a. The Lord would give Paul what he "needed"

b. But not necessarily what he "wanted"!

2. "My strength is made perfect in weakness"

a. I.e., it is in times of weakness and hardship that the

Lord's strength can be experienced most completely!

b. For in such times we really come to depend upon the Lord,

and not upon our own strength or wisdom!

 

B. NOW CONSIDER PAUL'S REACTION...

1. "I will boast in my infirmities"

a. Rather than bemoan his trying circumstances, he will glory

in them!

b. For it is in such infirmities that he has the opportunity

to experience the power of Christ in his life as He helps

him deal with them!

2. "I take pleasure in infirmities...for Christ's sake.  For when

I am weak, then I am strong."

 2Corinthians 12:10

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

a.  Infirmities can be a time for rejoicing!

b. For that can be a time in which to experience the strength

Christ gives, and the development of character that pleases

Him!

 Romans 5:3-5

“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

Why i Believe In God

Why I Believe in God

Psalms 14:1

“The fool said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”

-A fool is not someone who is stupid or uneducated, but a person who rejects God. By rejecting God, the fool rejects the one who made the moral and spiritual laws that make life just and good. A fool is indeed corrupt, because to deny God’s existence allows wickedness to prevail. The wise however, not only believe there is a God, but also strive to please him. To believe there is a God but refuse to please him is also foolish. Don’t be a fool of either sort.

**Such Faith in Him is a source of great comfort**

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

**It is necessary to have Faith; for it pleases God**

Hebrews 11:6

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

I.            The evidence of Design in the Universe

a.       Orderly movement of heavenly bodies, making space travel possible

b.      Animal Instinct, such as the migration patterns of birds, eels, and salmon

c.       The human body itself

*Contemplating on the universe and the human body rightfully produces awe, and points man to his creator. *

Romans 1:19-20

“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

II.          The Universal Sense of ought

a.       Everywhere people have a sense of ought

b.      That in certain circumstances, certain things should be done

c.       People are concerned…

1.      That people should act a certain way

2.      That people do not often act the way they should

d.      Even Atheists and Agnostics have a sense of justice, and are angered when it is violated (as in the case of rape and murder)

*This moral nature in man suggests a moral Being as the original cause. If there is no God, there is no right or wrong, good or evil. If there is no God, no atheist can object on moral grounds if someone was to go up to them in the intention of killing them. *

 

III.   The Universal Religious Instinct and Belief in God

a.       For every deepest longing in man, there is something that satisfies it…

1.      Food satisfies the Hunger

2.       Water satisfies the Thirst

b.      There must be a reality that complements and meets the universal craving for a Supreme Being

c.       Paul says this longing for God was placed in man by God Himself.

Acts 17:26-27

“And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from everyone of us:”

 

Another Scripture to add to this is one that explains that because the Lord puts in man a longing to seek Him, He expresses how much He is not far from saving them; what separates man from God is the Sin, which can be washed away in Jesus’ blood by accepting Him into your heart.….

 

Isaiah 59:1-2

1Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:2But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

** Other Arguments can be offered to support the existence of God…

1.      Fulfilled prophecies in the Scriptures

2.      Scientific foreknowledge of the Scriptures

3.      Uniformity of the Scriptures

4.      Evidences for the resurrection of Jesus from the Dead

 

Make a joyful Noise

Make a Joyful Noise

(Inspired by the Study of

Pastor Rolando Ramos)

 

1 Thessalonians 5:18-21

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesying. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”

** “Paul was not teaching that we should thank God for everything that happens to us, but in everything. Evil does not come from the Lord so we should not thank him for it. But when evil strikes, we can still be thankful for God’s presence and for the good he will accomplish through the distress.” **

The Joy of the Lord is my Strength

Nehemiah 8:10

“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

 

Matthew 4:4

“But he answered and said, it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

** “Jesus was able to resist all of satan’s temptations because he not only knew scripture, but he also obeyed it. (Ephesians 6:17) says that that God’s word is a sword to use in spiritual combat. Knowing Bible verses is an important step in helping us resist satan’s attacks, but we must also obey the Bible. Note that satan memorized Scripture, but he failed to obey it. Knowing and obeying the Bible helps us follow God’s desires rather than satan’s.” **

Ephesians 6:17

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God:”

**.. “To withstand the attack’s of satan, we must depend on God’s strength and use every piece of his armor. Paul is not only giving this counsel to the church, the body of Christ, but to all individuals within the Church. The whole body needs to be armed. As you do battle against the rulers of the darkness of this world, fight in the strength of the church, whose power comes from the Holy Spirit…” **

John 4:23-24

“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth.”

** “God is a spirit means he is not a physical being limited to one place. He is present everywhere and he can be worshipped anywhere, anytime. It is not where we worship that counts, but how we worship. Is your worship genuine and real? Do you have the Holy Spirit’s help? How does the Holy Spirit help us worship? The Holy Spirit prays for us, teaches us the words of Christ, and tells us we are loved.” **

John 14:26

“But the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

 

 

 

 

His water never runs dry

His water never runs dry
 

(This is proof on what God can do for us. It was greatly proven with one of God's prophets: Elisa)

2 Kings 4:1-7

“Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? Tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.”

** Elisha a prophet for the Lord had told this lady in simple instructions without hesitation on what to do. The Lord gave him spiritual wisdom on how he can help this widow solve this troublesome circumstance. She had said that her husband died and the creditors were to come to take her two sons to be slaves in replacement to these debts. So as she was instructed, (to due to her only having one vessel of oil); she went out in her neighborhood collecting as many empty vessels as she could, and brought it back home. He had told her to shut all the doors of her home, and fill those empty vessels with the oil she had. She was filling all the empty vessels full with just the oil she had. And when she saw she had no more empty vessels to fill, the oil stopped running out perfectly. (What a testimony) With the oil she had obtained from the Lord’s hand (miracle) she was told by Elisha to go out and sell the oil and she was to pay the debts and be at rest (peace) to live with her sons. **

Matthew 5:6

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

** Proving on what God had done for the widow and her two sons, It is a testimony showing on what God does for those who seek Him. God knows our needs, and wants to fulfill those needs. But in order to do so, we must believe in Him, and allow Him to orchestrate your life (salvation), making sure to put Him first before all things and the rest (things in life-stress,etc) will be taken care of. **

Matthew 6:33

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

** Put the Lord first, and all things shall be added unto you. Simply stated, it will be done. **

John 4:13-14

“Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

 

 

 

Be Courageous

Be courageous

..The only way we'll ever stand
Is on our knees with lifted hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous…

--Courageous by casting crowns

 

Joshua 1:1-9

“Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of nun, Moses’ minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withsoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.”

** After Moses’ death, Joshua was told by God that He was to lead the Israelites to the promised land. He was told to be courageous because the Lord was going to be with Him and His people the whole step of the way. He was also instructed to keep to the law accordingly, not departing from it. Meditate (pray and study upon the Word spoken by God), and He will lead the way, no matter what the circumstances may be. Being led by God’s hands, and obeying His law, He will be lead a prosperous and successful path being not afraid to what was to come before Him. **

((Moses sent out spies, Joshua and Caleb being

among them for report of the land)

 (Numbers 13:17-33)

Instructions to the Spies

17"And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain: 18And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; 19And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; 20And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.

The Spies Explore Canaan

21So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath. 22And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

23And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. 24The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence.

The Reports of the Spies

25And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. 26And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. 27And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. 28Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. 29The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.

30And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. 31But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. 32And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. 33And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight."

** Most of the spies except for Caleb came back with some negative views about their venture to the land flowing with milk and honey. They had brought back the report that the land was surely flowing with milk and honey, and the fruit thereof from the land. But when told by Caleb that they should go forth and obtain the land, the others had simply stated that they could not due to the stature of those in the land. They were giants and were stronger than they were. They were comparing themselves to grasshoppers against the giants that dwelled there. They spoke out of fear, not remembering who was on their side that is more powerful than anyone---God! Where Caleb spoke with courageous words that proved his Faith in God; that with God on their side who can fight against them. They can do anything. **

Romans 8:31

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

Romans 8:35-39

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

2 Timothy 1:7

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

** If God tells you that you are to do a job and that you will obtain something of great value, then you are to obey His words. There shall be nothing that stands in the way of God’s plans for us. It has proven that 2 things has been a stumbling block with the Israelites that would stall their retrieval of the Land that God promised them. Number 1: The obvious account--SIN, Number 2: FEAR.  **

** Remember Achan’s sin, and what it led him to? He was the cause of their failed attack against the Amorites; and it was right under their nose, and they didn’t know it. **

Joshua 7:19-25

And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. 20And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: 21When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.22So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it. 23And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD. 24And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor. 25And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.